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There has been limited research examining the mechanisms and epidemiology of sexual dysfunction in the morbidly obese.
Dr Ramsey Dallal and colleagues from Philadelphia, USA measured sexual function in the morbidly obese man before and after substantial weight loss induced by gastric bypass surgery.
The team assessed all male patients undergoing gastric bypass who completed the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory before and after operation.
Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory scores were also compared with published normative controls and analyzed for predictors of change.
Mixed models were created to control for age, diabetes, and hypertension.
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| After an average 67% excess weight loss, sexual function scores improved |
| Journal of the American College of Surgeons |
The researchers evaluated 97 men with a mean age of 48 years, and a mean body mass index of 51 kg/m2 who underwent gastric bypass surgery.
On average, preoperative morbidly obese patients reported a substantially greater degree of sexual dysfunction than did published reference controls in all domains.
Increasing weight independently predicted lower domain scores.
Mean postoperative follow-up length was 19 months.
The team found on average, Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory scores improved from preoperative levels by bivariate analysis in all categories.
Sexual drive scores improved from 4 to 5, erectile function from 6 to 9, ejaculatory function from 5 to 6, problem assessment from 7 to 10, and sexual satisfaction from under 1 to 2.
On multivariable analysis, the amount of weight loss independently predicted the degree of improvement in all Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory domains.
The team found after an average 67% excess weight loss, Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory scores in postoperative gastric bypass patients approached those of the reference controls.
Dr Dallal’s team concluded, “Men with morbid obesity commonly suffer from profound, but reversible sexual dysfunction.”
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